Mozgov Shows Knicks What a Big Man Can Do

The long, frequently frustrating search for a productive, skilled big man led the Knicks to a dozen dead ends before ending, finally, back where it began: in the Russian-speaking quarter of the locker room.

Necessity called, and Timofey Mozgov — his English and his game improving in lockstep — provided a bold reminder of why the Knicks found him so intriguing in the first place. He ran hard, dunked harder and took care of all the loose ends Sunday night, leading the depleted Knicks to a 124-106 rout of the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.

For Mozgov, a soft-spoken rookie, there was quiet satisfaction as he posted career highs in points (23), rebounds (14) and minutes (40). For the fans, there was happy delirium, and chants of “Moz-gov!” after he scored his final points on a 19-foot jumper.

For the Knicks (25-22), there was relief. They needed this victory over the woebegone Pistons (17-31). And they need an imposing, hustling, rebounding 7-footer to fill out this rotation if they hope to make any noise in the postseason.

The opportunity came Sunday because of injury (Wilson Chandler’s sore calf), suspension (Shawne Williams) and foul trouble (Ronny Turiaf). Chandler and Williams are both expected back for Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, but the rotation will need another adjustment.

Mozgov is the Knicks’ only 7-footer and earned an opening night start after a strong training camp. He struggled in the season’s opening weeks and soon fell out of the rotation.

“But we always liked him,” D’Antoni said. “That’s why he started the year. We thought he had that potential.”

The difference now? “He just wasn’t flustered,” D’Antoni said. “It just seemed like he was going way too fast earlier.”

The Knicks needed everything Mozgov provided to hold off Detroit and the hot-shooting Ben Gordon (35 points). The Pistons shot 50.6 percent and led by 8 in the third quarter, but the Knicks held them to 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Amar’e Stoudemire led the Knicks with 33 points. Danilo Gallinari added 29 points, making 7 of 12 field goals and all 11 of his free throws.

For the second straight game, Stoudemire spent a few disturbing moments wincing on the court, this time after bumping his left knee in the fourth quarter. He limped and hopped a bit but stayed in the game.

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Stoudemire was already coping with a sprained right knee, an injury he sustained Friday in Atlanta. Stoudemire started anyway and played effectively, if not always with his usual verve. He grabbed only six rebounds in 39 minutes.

Stoudemire conceded that he was “trying to save my legs a little bit” in the first half but said that his knees were fine — “No worries.”

Mozgov alleviated any other concerns, by cleaning up all the missed shots.

“He played great,” Stoudemire said. “He’s one of those players where he keeps working, and keeps trying to improve as a young player.”

Anthony Randolph also rejoined the rotation Sunday, but with more modest results: five rebounds, one block and no points in 8 minutes 30 seconds. He is likely to return to the bench when Chandler and Williams return.

Mozgov showed much more poise than he did in November. After missing his first three attempts Sunday — nervously flinging two shots long — he settled down and found a rhythm. He slammed through two putbacks and dunked a lob from Toney Douglas.

In Russia, the fans used to chant his full name. But he appreciated the enthusiastic chants of his last name.

“I feel really, really excited,” he said. “Thank you, the fans.”

REBOUNDS

Mark Warkentien, a veteran N.B.A. executive, will soon be hired as a Knicks front-office consultant, reporting to the team president Donnie Walsh, a person briefed on the matter confirmed. Yahoo Sports first reported the news Sunday. The highly regarded Warkentien was let go as the Denver Nuggets’ general manager last summer. He shares an agent with Walsh and has long been rumored as a possible right-hand man and, perhaps, eventual successor. Warkentien’s ties to the Nuggets could in theory help the Knicks’ in their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony. Walsh declined to comment on the Warkentien news, saying, “I have nothing to report.”

A version of this article appears in print on January 31, 2011, on Page D4 of the New York edition with the headline: Mozgov Shows Knicks What a Big Man Can Do. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe